House to fast track the passage of a bill on voters’ education subject for high school

THE House Committee on Basic Education and Culture has vowed to fast track the passage of a bill seeking to include voters’ education in the high school curriculum of both public and private schools.

Rep. Edwin Olivarez (1st District, Parañaque City) said a technical working committee will conduct a thorough study and will invite stakeholders and resource persons.

“Currently, the high school curriculum focuses on the appreciation of our national heroes, their works, and their contribution to the country’s historical development. The inclusion in the high school curriculum of the Voter’s Education shall further strengthen patriotism and nationalism among Filipino youth,” Olivarez said.

Olivares said the first-time voters should be taught on the importance of the right of suffrage and how to evaluate and choose the candidates.

Under House Bill 5784 to be known as the Voters’ Education Act of 2012, voters’ education shall be included in the curriculum and to be handled by trained teachers in formal and non-formal educational system in Fourth Year High School through lectures, demonstration, and other approaches.

The bill mandates the Department of Education (DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority TESDA) and the Commission on Election (COMELEC) to formulate the Voters’ Education curriculum for both public and private schools, out of school youth, and enrollees in the Alternative Learning System.

Olivares said the voters’ education includes relevant subjects such as, values formation, importance of the right to suffrage and the sanctity of the ballot, factors in evaluating and choosing candidates, and the electoral process in the Philippines.